Kumar Sangakkara will warm up for Sri Lanka’s forthcoming tour of England by appearing in the next two rounds of County Championship matches for title-holders Durham. One of the outstanding batsmen of his generation and ninth on the list of all-time leading Test run-scorers with 11,151 at an average of nearly 59, Sangakkara is set to play for Durham in their four-day games with Yorkshire and Sussex in May.

“I’m really looking forward to returning to county cricket with Durham and I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity”, Sangakkara said in a statement. “I actually made my debut for Warwickshire against Durham back in 2007 — I scored a few runs that day so I’m hoping to make amends this time around.”

Durham coach Jon Lewis added: “I said that if we could pull off this signing it would be a big bonus and it is. “To attract a player of Kumar Sangakkara’s quality to Durham is fantastic, and I’ve been really impressed by his eagerness to join us. In his short stay, I’m sure he’ll be a big asset — not just with his performances, but with the example he will show our crop of fine young cricketers.”

World Twenty20 champions Sri Lanka play England in a lone Twenty20 international at The Oval on May 20 before facing their hosts in a five-match one-day international series and two Tests, at Lord’s and Headingley, in June.

First Published on April 29, 2014, 9:06 amLast updated on April 29, 2014, 9:07 am